12/30/2017 7:06 AM PST

EXCLUSIVE

Nick Cassavetes has won a major victory -- he has his child back after claiming his baby mama stole their child from him ... TMZ has learned.

Nick appeared in an Oklahoma courtroom Friday to square off with Heather Wahlquist over 12-year-old Barbie. Wahlquist was asking the judge for an emergency order to allow her to keep Barbie in her custody, despite the fact that it's a California case. The Oklahoma judge rejected her request.

Nick has claimed Heather and her mother essentially stole Barbie and went on the run, despite the fact that the California custody order gave him physical custody effective December 18.

Barbie went back into chambers with the judge for about a half hour, and after their talk the judge told Nick he was the one who had current lawful custody, so they left the courtroom together.

The famed "Notebook" director tells TMZ Barbie is back in L.A. with him.

Heather had claimed Nick neglected Barbie while he had custody and she returned recently with a bacterial infection. She made other claims as well but the Oklahoma judge rejected them.

The fight isn't over. They're back in a California family law court January 18.

12/27/2017 11:11 AM PST

Heather appeared on "TMZ Live" Wednesday and chronicled what she says is a custody war that erupted without warning. She says she left Nick in 2012 and everything was square between her and the director of "The Notebook," until this month when Nick went after her for not turning over Barbie for the holidays.

TMZ broke the story ... Heather signed an agreement promising to turn Barbie over on December 18, but she didn't and claims it's because she questions Nick's stability, insinuating there might be a substance abuse issue.

She and Barbie are currently in Norman, Oklahoma and are due in court Tuesday. Nick wants a judge to hold Heather in violation of their agreement.

12/27/2017 9:45 AM PST

EXCLUSIVE

11:11 AM PT -- Nick has filed legal docs asking the judge to penalize Heather's mother and aunt for allegedly conspiring with Heather to steal his child. He wants more than $10,000 in penalties and wants that amount to grow for each day she wrongfully keeps Barbie away from him.

Nick Cassavetes went on the attack against his baby mama because of a custody agreement she signed and then violated ... TMZ has learned.

As we reported, Nick told authorities in Oklahoma Heather Wahlquistwas hiding their 13-year-old daughter, Barbie﻿, somewhere in Norman, Oklahoma, despite the fact that their agreement gave him custody during the Xmas holiday.

According to the custody agreement, obtained by TMZ, Heather and Barbie were supposed to return to L.A. by December 18 and he would have custody through January 8. Nick claims Heather has been on the lam with their child, flagrantly violating the agreement.

Heather claims she signed the custody agreement under duress, claiming he was holding their daughter hostage until she put pen to paper and signed.

Heather claims the director of "The Notebook" did not properly care for Barbie, citing an incident a few months back when he returned Barbie to Heather and she had a severe bacterial infection that left her eyes blood red and oozing. She attributes the illness to Nick's "unkempt party house."

She has a laundry list of complaints against Nick, from substance abuse allegations to gambling. She also bizarrely claims Nick had a tattoo of him having sex with her mom doggie style which mortified their daughter.

Nick and Heather are due in court next week ... he's asking a judge to lay down the law and force Heather to comply with their agreement.

12/26/2017 7:05 AM PST

EXCLUSIVE

Nick Cassavetes' ex-wife has fired back at him after he accused her of stealing their child ... she says the famed director has engaged in shocking conduct that has forced her and her daughter underground.

Heather Wahlquist tells TMZ Nick is actually the one who stole the 13-year-old back in August, and claims it was done out of revenge.

Heather claims Nick sent a pic to their daughter showcasing his exposed ass. She also mentioned that he posted a meme of Kevin Spacey along with several games with the caption, "Who remembers having to blow these as a kid." The words are followed by emojis of women raising their hands.

She insinuates Nick is still upset she left him 5 years ago, saying he's now in a "revenge plot against my family and I'm terrified."

Heather says she spent Xmas Eve alone with 13-year-old Barbie, "scared that this will end bad." She claims Nick has parked outside her home, "taking pictures of us and following us all around town."

12/25/2017 11:01 AM PST

EXCLUSIVE

'Notebook' director Nick Cassavetes is on the hunt for his 13-year-old daughter, whom he says has disappeared ... and he says it's all a diabolical plot by his estranged wife.

Law enforcement tells TMZ ... Cassavetes filed a police report. He claims Heather Wahlquist has been on the run with Barbie for the last month. He says he has ferociously tried to gain contact with Barbie to no avail ... her phone has been shut off and Heather refuses to take his calls.

Cassavetes has filed a crime report claiming Heather is violating their custody arrangement and has effectively stolen Barbie from him.

Cassavetes tells TMZ, "My 13 year old daughter Barbarella Cassavetes has gone missing, her mother repeatedly ignoring and disobeying court orders and stipulations. Heather Wahlquist is on the run, refusing to let me see Barbie, ignoring mandatory court appearances, and evading law enforcement."

Cassavetes goes on to say ... "We believe her family, grandmother Linda Massad and great aunt Jeanette Massad Anderson have been assisting in hiding Barbie and have also been served ... I don't know if she is okay or not, and I am extremely concerned for her well being."

12/14/2017 10:52 AM PST

EXCLUSIVE

Jennifer Hudson is putting out a bunch of not-so-sly disses against her ex, David Otunga, which he says violates the gag order in their bitter custody war ... TMZ has learned.

David filed docs this week calling out Jennifer for allegedly throwing repeated public jabs his way. In the docs, David points a Dec. 4 episode of "The Voice" where Jennifer is talking to Davon Fleming, one of the contestants. She makes a crack about her relationships never lasting.

In the docs, David also accuses Jennifer of shading him with an Instagram video where she's whispering about hate and jealousy. She never says David's name, but he thinks it's all about him.

He wants the judge to find Jennifer in contempt for violating the gag order.

12/13/2017 9:20 AM PST

EXCLUSIVE

Mel B's making it incredibly difficult for Stephen Belafonte to sell one of their houses because she won't let him in the house ... this according to Stephen Belafonte.

Stephen filed new docs saying Mel's breaking a divorce deal they hashed out back in November that included allowing Stephen into one of their houses so he can make repairs, stage it and help unload it.

In docs, obtained by TMZ, Stephen says he's been in contact with a realtor who has a buyer with plenty of cash and is interested in buying the crib. Problem is ... Stephen claims Mel's blocking his efforts. He said the potential buyer has more than $6 million in cash in one bank account and even offered to swap houses if that would make it easier for Mel.

Stephen also says Mel's not letting him see their kid. Stephen's case in point -- when he showed up to pick up 6-year-old Madison at school only to find out the nanny beat him to it.

12/12/2017 7:50 AM PST

Bethenny Frankel is taking her ex-husband back to court for custody of their daughter ... and she might be using his stalking and harassment case as leverage.

Bethenny reopened her divorce case against Jason Hoppy, according to docs filed December 6. She's most likely seeking full custody of their 7-year-old daughter, Bryn ... since they'd previously reached a custody agreement in 2014.

Since then, Hoppy was ordered to stay away from Bethenny after he allegedly told her, "I will destroy you." He was charged with stalking and aggravated harassment, and struck a plea deal in the case.

Unclear if that's the reason for her reigniting a custody battle -- we've made calls in to their attorneys -- but they're due in court in January.

12/5/2017 1:07 PM PST

EXCLUSIVE

Jeremy Meeks' estranged wife put him and his attorney on blast for slut shaming her, and going MIA on his son ... financially and otherwise.

Melissa Meeks just filed legal docs asking for child support and says he stopped paying for his kid. She says he left her to pursue his modeling career while she's left caring for their son, and she wants money from him. She says she's going broke paying the bills.

She also throws shade on Jeremy's attorney, Vicki Greene, saying, "Shame on Ms. Greene for attempting to slut shame me."

Melissa says Jeremy and Vicki criticized her for talking about her private parts on a reality TV show. She blasts Jeremy as a hypocrite, saying, "Jeremy struts around on a catwalk in his underwear and that's ok for our son to see, but my attempts to help shape my public image are wrong?? I would not even have a public image if not for Jeremy's tabloid adventures."

She adds, "I am shocked that Jeremy and his attorney attempt to slut shame me as they do."

Melissa says in the 130 days since they've separated he's only had their son for 30 days.

11/29/2017 7:37 AM PST

EXCLUSIVE

7:56 AM PT -- A source close to Jennifer says the singer would have no issue testifying in court because she has witnesses to back up her account of the altercation that went down the night before she filed the order of protection.

Further, the source says Jennifer would never make up something like this, and put her child through such an ordeal.Jennifer Hudson dropped the protective order against David Otunga so she could avoid a courtroom grilling about the abuse allegations he's always denied ... at least that's how people connected to him see it.

Sources close to Otunga believe Jennifer was NOT being generous, or looking out for their son, when she dropped the order. If she didn't, she would have to show up in court and testify, under oath, to what she wrote in docs -- that she was in fear for her "physical and emotional safety and that of my son."

Our Otunga sources insist he did not behave threateningly toward David Jr. or Jennifer. They say she knows that, and that's why she dodged saying it on the stand.

11/29/2017 12:50 AM PST

EXCLUSIVE

Jennifer Hudson agreed to let David Otunga see their son again, but only because he's out of her house and no longer a physical threat to her ... according to sources connected to the singer.

The sources say Jennifer dropped the restraining order keeping Otunga away from 8-year-old David Jr., purely in the child's best interest. Although Jennifer's restraining order docs say, "I am now living in fear for my physical and emotional safety and that of my son" -- we're told she was referring to emotional scarring David Jr. would suffer if he saw his father threaten his mother.

She never accused Otunga of physically threatening their child. As we reported, Otunga's been removed from their home, and as a result, we're told Jennifer's satisfied as the emotional risk to their son is no longer present.

As for who's been the child's primary caregiver -- our Jennifer sources say she's always made mothering her top priority, even while working to support the family.

When she first went to London a year ago to shoot 'The Voice' ... she not only brought Otunga and David Jr., but she also paid Otunga's mom to tutor her grandson. She did the same during her 6-month Broadway run in "The Color Purple."

On the issue of custody going forward -- as we reported, David Jr. is with his father right now while Jennifer works in London. However, sources on her side stress David hasn't won anything. The judge hasn't ruled on custody yet, and neither parent's been deemed "primary" caregiver.

We're told Jennifer will continue making decisions based on what's best for her son.